Ways to alleviate chronic back pain

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Chronic back pain is a debilitating ailment that heavily affects daily activities. According to the American Chiropractic Association, chronic back pain is responsible for 264 million lost work days in a year, and that 80 percent of the population suffers from back pain at least once in their lives. Here are some effective ways to alleviate chronic back pain.


Take prescribed pain killers from your doctor. While it’s easy to grab generic pain killers from the pharmacy, it is always better to consult your doctor about proper back pain medication. Once your doctor has examined your spine and the possible causes of chronic pain, he or she will prescribe medication to ease the pain.

Physical therapy. Consulting a physical therapist will educate you on proper posture and keeping your spine in proper shape to lessen back pain. Therapists will teach you how to sit, stand, and move in ways that will nurture the spine and spare it from stress. Physical therapy also helps patients strengthen the core and improve flexibility, two of the main bodily functions easing back pain.

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Constantly stretch and consider workspace ergonomics. Avoid sitting slumped on your desk, especially if you are working for long stretches of hours daily. Most people bend forward while working, which can cause serious back ailments. If you can, walk around and stretch every hour for an improved blood circulation and invest in a working chair that will keep your spine comfortable.

Dr. Joseph Yazdi specializes in minimally invasive surgical techniques, motion preservation through total disc replacement, and chronic pain management by placement of dorsal column stimulator (DCS, or SCS) in selected patients. For more articles like this, visit this page.

Easy Exercises To Ease Pain In The Lower Back

Mild to moderate back pain can be treated and/or managed with daily exercises. Many medical professionals suggest everyone practice this habit for preventive purposes. It is estimated that more people are being diagnosed with chronic spine pain every year due to poor sitting habits and lifestyle choices. While not life-threatening per se, the condition could take a debilitating nature.

Thankfully, there are two easy exercises anyone can do.

The Piriformis Muscle: This muscle runs from the thigh bone to the base of the spine. This is often the area that becomes painful after sitting down from too long. To stretch this muscle, one should lay on the back, crossing the affected leg over the other. When both knees are bent, one should place both hands together under the knee of the lower leg and gently pull the bottom leg towards the chest until the stretch is felt. This should be held for 30 seconds.

Image Source: Medscape.com

The Psoas Major Muscle: This muscle occupies the front portion of the lower spine and limits mobility when constricted. Patients who have hurt this muscle often complain of difficulties standing up for long periods of time. This muscle can be stretched from a half-kneeling position. One should rotate one leg outward while tightening the butt on the side that is being stretched. Then, the person should lean forward through the hip joint. The stretch should be felt at the front of the hip.

Image Source: Medscape.com

Doing these easy stretches once or twice a day can significantly reduce the risk of developing serious chronic spinal problems.

Dr. Joseph Yazdi’s neurosurgery practice focuses on chronic spine problems including scoliosis and spinal fusion. To learn more about alleviating back pain and other spinal conditions, subscribe to this blog.